Simply put, the Red Wolves made the game's biggest plays at the biggest moments. After Ball State scored a touchdown with 1:33 to play to take a four-point lead, the Red Wolves drove 59 yards in five plays and 53 seconds to score a touchdown of their own and take a three-point lead with 32 seconds left. Ball State responded and moved into position to attempt a game-tying field goal, but Arkansas State blocked the kick to preserve the win.

KEY MOMENT

There were a few, but let's go with the 13-yard pass from backup quarterback Fredi Knighten, playing for injured starter Adam Kennedy, to Allen Muse. It came two plays after Knighten hooked up with J.D. McKissic for 26 yards that put the Red Wolves at the 19. And of course the blocked field goal was a big play, but the touchdown throw gets the nod.

WHAT FANS ARE SAYING?

It may have been a little chilly, but that was a fun game to watch. The final, frantic minutes of the game and much of what happened before kept the fans involved, but people on their way out of Ladd-Peebles Stadium were talking about the many plays that shaped the outcome of the game. It appears this GoDaddy Bowl game will be one that is remembered for a while.

CALL OF THE DAY

Easily, the Knighten-to-Muse touchdown play, not just because it was the game-winning play, but because it was an uncontested touchdown play. Muse was wide open in the left-hand corner of the end zone. Perhaps the Ball State defense was concentrating on McKissic, who often gets the call on big plays, or there was a missed assignment by the defense. Perhaps both. But the play call was obviously right on the money.

WHERE DID HE COME FROM?

That would be Knighten, who stepped in for the Red Wolves when Kennedy was inured in the first half. Kennedy suffered a knee injury in the Western Kentucky game, ASU's final regular-season game. He had made progress, but coaches admitted they knew there was a chance he might re-injure the knee in the game. When he did, Knighten stepped forward. he completed 15 of 20 passes for 115 yards, the game-winning touchdown and one interception.